Backrest For A Motor Vehicle Seat With An Air Supply Device

ABSTRACT

A backrest for a motor vehicle seat is described. The rear side of the seat is covered by a planar lining part within which an air supply device for supplying the head, shoulder and neck region of a seat occupant with an airflow is integrated. The air supply device comprises a housing. Fitted together from at least two housing parts, with one of these housing parts being directly supported by the lining part of the backrest.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Phase of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2005/012668, filed Nov. 26, 2005, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to European Patent Application No. 10 2004 060 460.6 filed Dec. 16, 2004, the entire disclosures of which are herein expressly incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a backrest for a motor vehicle seat having a rear side covered with a planar lining part, and having an air supply device to supply an airflow to the head, shoulder and neck regions.

German Patent Document DE 100 54 010 C1 discloses a motor vehicle seat with a backrest, the rear side of which is lined by a planar plastic part, with an air supply device for supplying the head, shoulder and neck region of a seat occupant with a preferably hot airflow being integrated within the backrest. In this case, the air supply device comprises a housing, through which a hot air flow can be conveyed from a lower region of the seat as far as an air outlet opening on the front side of the head restraint.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a backrest providing ventilation as described above, in which the air supply device and its housing can be assembled in a simple manner and can easily be integrated within the backrest.

This object is achieved according to examples of the invention by a backrest as described below. Additional advantageous embodiments of the invention are indicated in the claims, drawings and specification.

In the case of the backrest according to the invention, the housing of the air supply device is formed from at least two housing parts which can be fitted together and of which one is directly supported by the rear lining part of the backrest. By this, the housing or the housing parts of the air supply device can be equipped in a simple manner with the associated components of the air supply device, and subsequently the at least two housing parts are fitted together, after which the assembled housing of the air supply device is entirely supported by the lining part of the backrest. As a result, the entire housing of the air supply device can therefore be fastened to the rear lining part of the backrest, and, independently thereof, the further parts of the backrest—for example the backrest frame, the upholstery and the seat cover—can be assembled independently thereof. The assembly of the backrest and of the rear lining part, including the housing of the air supply device, is subsequently very simple in terms of manufacturing to realize. In addition, the arrangement of the at least one housing part of the air supply device on the lining part can achieve a particularly space-saving arrangement of the air supply device within the backrest, and therefore the backrest cushion can have a relatively large depth in the region in front of the housing.

It is particularly advantageous in one example to configure the lining part and the associated housing part of the air supply device to be integral. This configuration makes it possible to use the wall of the lining part simultaneously as the wall of the associated housing part. The lining part or the exemplary integral housing part is preferably formed from a plastic.

In addition, it has proven advantageous for at least a further housing part of the air supply device to be fastened using a releasable connection to that housing part which is assigned to the lining part of the backrest. In particular, a clip connection or latching lug connection may be used as an exemplary releasable connection.

Before the at least two housing parts are assembled, the housing can be fitted with components, such as, for example, a fan or a heating element of the air supply device. These components are preferably preassembled on the further housing part before this further housing part is fitted together to the housing part assigned to the lining part of the backrest. The two housing parts are preferably decoupled in terms of vibration from each other by suitable devices, and therefore vibrations caused by the fan cannot pass to the lining part of the backrest.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the description below of a preferred exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 a, b show a schematic, perspective front view and a schematic side view of the backrest of the motor vehicle seat with the integrated air supply device according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view from the bottom front of the inside of the lining part of the backrest together with that housing part of the air supply device supported by the lining part according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the inside of the lining part with the integrally formed housing part of the air supply device according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the further housing part of the air supply device with integrated heating element and fan, which housing part can be fitted together with the housing part assigned to the lining part of the backrest, according to an embodiment of the invention and

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view obliquely from the bottom of the inside of the lining part of the backrest together with the housing of the air supply device that is supported by the lining part, according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b illustrate the backrest 10 of a motor vehicle seat in a schematic, perspective front view and in a schematic side view, respectively. In FIG. 1 a, a substantially planar lining part 12 (explained in more detail below), a head restraint 14 and a backrest cushion 15 can be seen in front of the backrest 10. The motor vehicle seat is designed here as an integral seat, with the head restraint 14 being arranged in front of the backrest 10 and overlapping therewith. The head restraint 14 can be adjusted in height in relation to the backrest 10 via a guide (not shown). An exemplary air supply device 16 which comprises, among other components, a fan 18 (indicated schematically) at the lower end of the air supply device 16 and an air duct 20 arranged above the fan 18, is arranged within the backrest 10. A heating element 22 (indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 1 a) is provided within the air duct 20 at a distance above the fan 18 and on the delivery side thereof, the heating element being able to heat the air flow produced by the fan 18. At the upper end, the air duct 20, which runs vertically, is angled forward in an L-shaped manner and ends at an air discharge opening 24 on the front side 26 of the head restraint 14. The air duct 20 is combined with the housing 28 of the fan 18 to form a housing 30 (described in more detail below) of the air supply device 16. Furthermore, the profile of the backrest cushion 15 in the central surface region of the backrest 10 is indicated by dashed lines in the side view of FIG. 1 b. It can also be seen from this drawing that the air supply device 16 or its housing 30—including the air duct 20 and the housing 28 of the fan 18—is arranged entirely within the backrest 10 and only the air discharge opening 24 is visible from the outside. In addition, it can be seen that the planar lining part 12, which is fastened on the rear side of the backrest 10, borders the backrest cushion 15 in the region of a joint gap 32. The lining part 12 is produced in this exemplary embodiment from a thermoplastic, however, other plastics or metal sheets or the like would likewise be usable.

FIG. 2 illustrates the inside of the lining part 12 in a perspective view from the bottom front. The lining part 12 is fastened to the rear side of a backrest frame (not illustrated) of the backrest 10 via spacer and fastening elements 34 arranged on the edge in the region of the joint gap 32 (FIG. 1 b). A first housing part 36 is arranged in a central region of the lining part 12, which housing part, in the present case, is formed integrally with the lining part 12 of the backrest 10. However, in another embodiment, the first housing part 36 may be fastened to the lining part 12 as a separate part. In the present exemplary embodiment, the first housing part 36 comprises a part 38 of the housing 28 for the fan 18 and a part 40 of the air duct 20. A recess 42 which serves to receive the heating element 22 (FIGS. 1A and 1 b) can be seen in the part 40 of the first housing part 36. The first housing part 36 ends upward approximately halfway up the air duct 20. In the present exemplary embodiment, the part 38 of the housing 28 for the fan 18, which part is configured in an oval manner here, comprises a suction opening 44 for the fan 18, which is designed as an axial ventilator and passes through the lining part 12. A covering which can be opened and is in the form of a blind, a roller shutter, a slatted assembly or the like can be provided to cover this suction opening 44.

FIG. 3 illustrates, in a plan view, the central region of the inside of the lining part 12 with the integrally formed first housing part 36. In conjunction with FIG. 4, in which a second housing part 46 can be seen in plan view, the interaction of the two exemplary housing parts 36, 46 is clear. In the lower region up to approximately half of its length, the second housing part 46 is designed as an essentially open half shell, which can be fitted together with the first housing part 36. Above a joint gap 48, the second housing part 46 forms the housing 30 of the air supply device 16 by itself. In the lower region, in which the second housing part 46 is designed as a substantially open half shell matched to the first housing part 36, a recess 50 may be provided in which the heating element 22 is preassembled. In the lower oval region, the fan 18 of the air supply device 16 is already preassembled within the half shell of the second housing part 46.

In this embodiment, the essential components—namely the fan 18 and the heating element 22—are already preassembled within the second housing part 46, such that the latter can be assembled together with the first housing part 36 on the lining part 12, and the housing 30 of the air supply device 16 is therefore completed. In the present exemplary embodiment, the second housing part 46 can be fastened to the first housing part 36 by a releasable connection, such as a latching connection, a clip connection or the like. Sound insulation in the form of an elastomeric element (not illustrated) arranged in the region of the encircling joint gap is preferably provided between the two housing parts 36, 46, and therefore vibrations produced by the fan 18 cannot be transmitted to the lining part 12. Instead of the two partial shells 36, 46 shown here, the housing 30 may, in another exemplary embodiment, also be divided in another way into two or more housing parts which can be fitted together, with, however, at least one of these housing parts being fastened directly to the lining part 12, or being formed integrally therewith.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view from the bottom front of the inside of the lining part 12 with the completed housing 30 of the air supply device 16 fastened thereto. In the lower region of the exemplary housing 30, the two half shells of the first housing part 36 and of the second housing part 46 have been fitted together, and the second housing part 46 has therefore been fastened to the lining part 12. The now completed housing 30 of the air supply device 16 can be connected to a power supply via a line (not illustrated), and therefore the fan 18 and the heating element 22 can be correspondingly operated. The lining part 12 which is completed to this extent can now be fitted together with the air supply device 16 on the rear side of the backrest 10. 

1-9. (canceled)
 10. A backrest for a motor vehicle seat, comprising: a planar lining part for covering a rear side of the backrest; an air supply device integrated within the backrest for supplying a head, a shoulder and a neck region of a seat occupant with an airflow; and a housing of the air supply device formed from at least two housing parts adapted for fitting together, a first one of the at least two housing parts being supported by the planar lining part of the backrest.
 11. The backrest as claimed in claim 10, wherein the lining part of the backrest is formed integrally with the first one of the at least two housing parts of the air supply device.
 12. The backrest as claimed in claim 10, wherein a second housing part of the air supply device is releasably connectable to the first one of the at least two housing parts which is assigned to the lining part of the backrest.
 13. The backrest as claimed in claim 10, wherein the air supply device further comprises a fan which is arranged within the housing.
 14. The backrest as claimed in claim 13, wherein the fan is pre-assembleable on a second housing part of the air supply device before assembly of the housing.
 15. The backrest as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second housing part of the air supply device is fastenable in a vibrationally decoupled manner to the first housing part supported by the lining part of the backrest.
 16. The backrest as claimed in claim 13, wherein the lining part of the backrest comprises, an air inlet opening for the fan adjacent to an associated housing part.
 17. The backrest as claimed in claim 10, wherein the air supply device comprises a heating element arranged within the housing.
 18. The backrest as claimed in claim 17, wherein the heating element is assembleable on a second of the housing parts of the air supply device, before the housing is assembled.
 19. A ventilation system for a vehicle seat, comprising: an air supply device extending substantially along a backrest of the vehicle seat; a housing of the air supply device defining an air passage delivering air to portions of the backrest; a first portion of the housing for attachment to a lining part covering a rear side of the backrest; and a second portion of the housing connectable to the first portion.
 20. The ventilation system according to claim 19, further comprising a fan for motivating air along the air passage of the air supply device.
 21. The ventilation system according to claim 19, further comprising a heater for heating air flowing in the air passage of the air supply device.
 22. The ventilation system according to claim 19, wherein the air supply device delivers air to at least one of a head, a shoulder and a neck region of an occupant.
 23. The ventilation system according to claim 19, wherein the first and second portions of the housing are releasably connectable.
 24. The ventilation system according to claim 19, wherein the first portion of the housing is attacheable to the lining part prior to assembly thereof with the backrest.
 25. The ventilation system according to claim 19, wherein the first portion of the housing is unitary with the lining part of the backrest.
 26. The ventilation system according to claim 20, wherein the fan is adapted for assembly to the second portion of the housing prior to assembly of the first and second portions of the housing. 